Hop harvest & bad weather

[Petaar]

Hi guys, I'm having a bit of a headache regarding my second year harvest. My Cascade plants are probably going to be ready to pick in 3-5 days, but a spell of rainy and cold(er) weather is going to hit my area in next 36 hours.

Since the cones are close to being ripe I'm wondering what to do? How will this bad weather spell going to influence my harvest? Should I harvest before or after the rainfall?

I'll appreciate your input,

Peter

 

[friarsmith]

Not sure where you're located exactly, but based on the next few days in Zagreb (High 60's F and rain, then dry and mild for days) you should be safe to leave them for another week or so.

 

[Petaar]

Thanks friarsmith, I'll will wait with the harvest until the second part of the week. Hopefully, rain will do no harm to my babies.

 

[dmtaylor]

The best advice when it comes to harvesting hops: When in doubt, wait another week.

 

[friarsmith]

The best advice when it comes to harvesting hops: When in doubt, wait another week.

Yep. 15 years of growing them and that just about sums it up.

 

[radbrewer]

I have always followed the when in doubt wait theory. this year though... today I got home to see all my hops browned. I was out of town for a week. I am begrudgingly picking hops right now. they smell and feel great just do not look that vibrant. is this a concern or am I just over analyzing?

 

[dmtaylor]

I have always followed the when in doubt wait theory. this year though... today I got home to see all my hops browned. I was out of town for a week. I am begrudgingly picking hops right now. they smell and feel great just do not look that vibrant. is this a concern or am I just over analyzing?

Same thing happened to mine this year. I finally picked my Hallertau today. There were a ton of brown ones, and most were small this year. Probably due to the drought and I didn't water them very well. That's okay. They'll still taste fine in the beer. Some years are better than others. This was not a great year perhaps but maybe next year you'll get twice as much, and/or they'll look twice is nice. They're not consistent in appearance or quantity but that's normal, that's just fine.